Tickets Go on Sale April 8th

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2013 —The Roots, the legendary, Grammy Award-winning hip hop band, will celebrate their 25th anniversary with a special concert on Saturday, June 15th at Kastles Stadium at The Wharf. The showcase event – DC Jazz Festival and Events DC Present: The Roots in Concert – will be held during the 2013 DC Jazz Festival and feature opening act Snarky Puppy.

The brainchild of childhood friends Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, The Roots was named one of the greatest live acts by Rolling Stone. In addition to serving as the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the band hosts sold-out jam sessions across the country, collaborates on new works for contemporary performance (Lincoln Center, BAM, Kimmel Center), and consistently produces Grammy-nominated albums.

Their most recent release – undun – the group’s first conceptually-based album and 13th major label release, has received critical acclaim from bloggers and fans, and reaffirmed their creative reputation for pushing the envelope.

“Events DC is thrilled to partner with the DC Jazz Festival to bring one of the most beloved live bands in America to the nation’s capital for a very special performance,” said Erik A. Moses, managing director of Events DC’s Sports and Entertainment Division. “The Roots are not only critically acclaimed musicians, but have proven themselves to be the kind of artists whose creativity and music inspires passion and great appreciation across a broad spectrum of fans and audiences alike. They are a perfect complement to the 9th annual DC Jazz Festival and we could not be happier.”

“We are more excited than ever to play the DC Jazz Festival,” said The Roots. “It’s great when we can get together and really play music from our musical roots to an audience that can actually receive it! We are thrilled to be there.”

About the DC Jazz Festival: With more than 125 performances in nearly 60 venues, the DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) is one of the largest music festivals in the country. A project of Festivals DC, Ltd., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the DCJF has experienced spectacular year-on-year growth, and is set to celebrate its landmark 10th anniversary in 2014. As the fastest growing jazz festival in the U.S., the DCJF celebrates America’s unique art form during this national event that draws jazz lovers from around the world to the nation’s capital. The DCJF presents year-round programs with performances featuring local, nationally and internationally acclaimed artists. The DCJF's mission is to promote music education programs and actively support community outreach to expand and diversify its audience of jazz enthusiasts. The 2013 DC Jazz Festival will take place June 5-16. For more information about the DC Jazz Festival and upcoming programs, visit www.dcjazzfest.org.

The DC Jazz Festival(r) is a section 501 (c)(3) non-profit service organization. The DC Jazz Festival is sponsored in part with major grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, the NEA Foundation, the Anne and Ronald Abramson Family Foundation, CrossCurrents Foundation, and by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

About Events DC: Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation’s capital. Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District’s hospitality and tourism economy that generates over $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the Stadium-Armory campus, which includes the historic Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and surrounding Festival Grounds, and the non-military functions of the DC Armory. Events DC also built and now serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com.